Toll Brothers "Quality"

[DARREN GODFREY]

I don't have a ton of expertise on building so can some please explain why they seem to cost a lot more?

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

It's the higher quality, dontcha know.

 

[DARREN GODFREY]

It's the higher quality, dontcha know.

Because they charge more...I am guessing

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Maybe it's a vinyl village versus granite kitchen kind of thing.
If people are paying more, there's a reason.
Probably not those toll house chocolate chip cookies either.

Give us more details.

 

[DARREN GODFREY]

Maybe it's a vinyl village versus granite kitchen kind of thing.
If people are paying more, there's a reason.
Probably not those toll house chocolate chip cookies either.

Give us more details.

Ok, I walk into new construction, and basically can't not see any quality differences between their homes and competitors properties, in fact I would say for the same price with a competitor in the same subdivision one can find a home for 20k less. This is using an apples to apples comparison.
Currently doing a new construction Toll Brothers home , only thing I see is an inexplicable higher charge. Maybe, there are golden beams behind that drywall...I just don't get it.
Doing more research, they have a ton of Better Business Bureau complaints, so I am just taking this all in...I understand their #1 ranking but why?

 

[DARREN GODFREY]

273 Toll Brothers Reviews From Customers

My wife and I are scheduled to close on our home this Friday, 4/27/2012. We were told today, 4/24/2012, that the appraisal on our property came in $32,000 below the ...

www.consumeraffairs.com

 

[KYLECODY]

Ok, I walk into new construction, and basically can't not see any quality differences between their homes and competitors properties, in fact I would say for the same price with a competitor in the same subdivision one can find a home for 20k less. This is using an apples to apples comparison.
Currently doing a new construction Toll Brothers home , only thing I see is an inexplicable higher charge. Maybe, there are golden beams behind that drywall...I just don't get it.
Doing more research, they have a ton of Better Business Bureau complaints, so I am just taking this all in...I understand their #1 ranking but why?

Toll Brothers is known as one of the higher end "tract home builders". They like to call them semi custom but isnt everything? Many times they do appear of higher quality to me with more interesting, versus standard, floorplans and features. They generally have higher ceilings, larger doors and windows and appear "nicer". In most neighborhoods in my area the Toll Brother Homes will consistently sell at the highest end of the subdivision even with 3 or 4 other builders in the same subdivision. They are not cheap and quick tract homes. They consistently charge more than the more standard builders because they have proven they can get it. If its new construction. just use a couple Toll Brothers new sales along with a competing new sale and another Toll resale if there are any.

The market will tell you if they are "better". If you run through data in older subdivisions in your area with Toll Brothers you should see that even years later in the resale market they sell for more than most other builders...

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Toll Brothers is known as one of the higher end "tract home builders". They like to call them semi custom but isnt everything? Many times they do appear of higher quality to me with more interesting, versus standard, floorplans and features. They generally have higher ceilings, larger doors and windows and appear "nicer". In most neighborhoods in my area the Toll Brother Homes will consistently sell at the highest end of the subdivision even with 3 or 4 other builders in the same subdivision. They are not cheap and quick tract homes. They consistently charge more than the more standard builders because they have proven they can get it.

Ding ding ding! Quality. Sometimes you need to explain the details like Kyle just did.

Terminator flashbacks on Friday night notwithstanding, Kyle. Sorry.

 

[Overimprovement]

And sometimes its just the name. One can pay four digits for a Tag Heuer watch that tells time exactly the same as my last watch, which was a $20 wal-mart special.

Or how about Godiva chocolates, which in reality are the same quality as many base level chocolates, but cost a ton more.

There often is little separating entry level homes from the next level up--granite or solid surface vs nice looking formica counters. 9' vs 8' ceilings. Full height vs 7' basements (2 extra courses of block costs relatively little!). Minor fixture upgrades like lights, bath vanities, etc. 6" baseboard trim and/or chair rail vs 4" and none. Master trey ceilings. Two windows at least on every side (in my area, there are homes with ZERO windows on some sides...sad). One level higher laminate or some good wood flooring the contractor got on clearance. Finishing out the bonus room over the garage (I see so many homes where it is left unfinished). EZ close kitchen cabinets with a lazy susan. And so on...

So much of the cost of a home is the same, regardless of quality--the concrete, wood studs and sub-flooring (most every house uses advantech in my area), electrical wiring, plumbing, paint, drywall, windows (until you get to very high end), shingles (almost always arch. in my area), etc. are almost all identical in varying quality levels of homes. It seems like the 80% of the home interior the buyer actually sees costs 20% of the total budget--kitchen, bathrooms, trim, lighting, doors, flooring. Smart builders try to see where they can spend an extra $100 in cost and get $150 back in price, by supplying a slightly better product. I actually try to employ that mentality in my reports as well. And while I may not get a ton more per report, I feel better about the end product anyway. And hopefully I am building a decent reputation, even if most lenders don't care that much about it today. Every report I turn in has the next 17 years in mind, because that's how much longer I need to work for.

 

[Meandering]

Same here as Kyle notes

higher ceilings, (especially in the basement) "taller" windows in the main living areas.

But they are a "brand" name, like designer jeans.
So you get to pay extra for telling your friends, you have a Toll Brother's Home.

.